Bringing Prabowo, 3 Indonesian Defense Industries Sign Cooperation In The UAE, What Are They?

DOCUMENTATION / Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto meets UAE Defense Minister Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi PHOTO: Special / Private Doc. Defense Minister Prabowo/w395

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto witnessed the signing of the cooperation of three Indonesian Defense Industry SOEs when he met with the Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) HE Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi.

The three Defense Industry SOEs are PT PAL with the UAE government, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia with PT Pindad with Calidus LLC, at the UAE Ministry of Defense, Abu Dhabi.

The cooperation agreement between PTDI and Calidus LLC was confirmed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan and Calidus CEO Faris Al Mazrouei.

This collaboration includes Joint Marketing for the CN235 and N219 aircraft, as well as Joint Development for the upgrade version of the N219 aircraft and the UAV MALE Elang Hitam, as well as Engineering, and Design & Flight Testing Work Package cooperation in each joint product development.

"This MoU is expected to encourage business improvement and development of the two companies, including accelerating the marketing strategy of PTDI's products in the Middle East and Southeast Asia", said PTDI President Director, Gita Amperiawan, as quoted in a written statement, Monday, July 4.

At the same meeting, PT Pindad President Director Abraham Mose and Calidus LLC Chairman Faris Al Mazrouei also signed an MoU on the joint development of 8x8 combat vehicle products, with the scope of cooperation in terms of joint development and production, engineering design, technical assistance, and component supply, which will enable PT Pindad to expand its technological competence, especially in the development of 8x8 combat vehicle products for use in desert and ballistic resistance.

"Through this collaboration with Calicus LLC, it is hoped that it will increase PT Pindad's ability in terms of science, technology, capacity, and company capabilities, especially in the field of 8x8 vehicle production", said PT Pindad President Director, Abraham Mose.

In addition, there is also an MoU between PT PAL and the UAE Navy which is included in the Indonesia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA) on Friday, July 1, in the form of a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) purchase contract between PT PAL Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates Navy.

"Cooperation in the defense sector, especially the defense industry is very important for both countries, especially for the development of the defense industry in the future", said Defense Minister Prabowo.

This defense cooperation which includes the defense industry is under the direction of President Joko Widodo who said that Indonesia should build a domestic defense industry so that it is ready to enter a new era of competition and can meet the needs of defense equipment to maintain the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

"We must move quickly, be agile and also observant to see opportunities, be proactive in responding to opportunities so that we can become part of the global supply chain, this is very important while prioritizing meeting domestic needs", said President Jokowi when launching the Defense Industry SOEs holding named Defense Industry Indonesia (Defend ID) in Surabaya, East Java, last April.